SB 122 Summary

• Establishes Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act prohibiting importation, exportation, taking, possessing, purchasing, or selling of western Joshua trees except through permit system with fee schedule ($150-$2,500 per tree depending on size and location) with revenues deposited into Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund for habitat acquisition and management.

• Authorizes Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to plan, design, construct, and administer public works projects upon Department of Finance approval, and allows Director of Finance to allocate funds to California Science Center to mitigate minimum wage increases on Foundation contracts.

• Modifies California African American Museum and Exposition Park governance to authorize concession contracts for branded merchandise sales and establishes nongovernmental foundations with reporting requirements, with provisions inoperative July 1, 2030 and repealed January 1, 2031.

• Creates drought relief and floodflow diversion programs allowing diversions for groundwater recharge without water rights permits (through January 1, 2029) when local agencies declare imminent flooding risk, with reporting and environmental protection conditions.

• Establishes Dam Safety and Climate Resilience Local Assistance Program providing state grants for dam repairs and rehabilitation; increases dam and reservoir application fees with annual Consumer Price Index adjustments; and extends water arrearage assistance program through 2026 to include wastewater providers.